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Shahbulat Shamhalaev was taken to hospital with various gunshot wounds on Wednesday following an altercation at a local restaurant in Makhachkala, Dagestan.
Shamhalaev, a former Bellator featherweight tournament winner, was reportedly shot five times by unnamed assailants. He was immediately taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery and had a kidney removed at approximately 4pm Moscow time.
The former title challenger is in stable condition but remains in intensive care.

The death of Joao Carvalho is having a marked effect on mixed martial arts in Europe.
BAMMA is the latest organization to make a major change for fighter safety following the tragic passing of Carvalho after a bout in Ireland last month. The British promotion announced Tuesday that it would be pushing back its June event to properly implement a new MRI/MRA testing procedure.
Beginning after the event this weekend, BAMMA fighters will be required to have an MRI/MRA scan, according to a press release. Because that system will take months to put into place, BAMMA will be pushing back its BAMMA 26 card from June 4 to Sept. 10. The event will remain in Dublin, the city where it was initially scheduled. All tickets will be honored and refunds are also available, the release said.

Last month, it was revealed that Frank Mir tested positive for oral turiabol metabolites - an anabolic steroid - for his in-competition drug test relating to UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Hunt.
Mir, who lost via first round KO to 'Super Samoan', hinted that tainted kangaroo meat in Australia was perhaps responsible for his failed drug test, and the two-time heavyweight champion is using the same argument to defend his 'B' sample, which also flagged for performance-enhancing drugs.
Mir cited NFL lineman Duane Brown on his Phone Booth Fighting podcast (per MMA Fighting), whose positive drug test for clenbuterol stemmed from tainted beef he ate in Mexico.

MMA Fighting reports that the police in former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn's home town have begun a sexual-assault investigation of allegations made against the fighter by the girlfriend of the former editor of his website.
"Hilo (Hawaii) Police Department has launced a second-degree assault investigation into the UFC legend stemming from allegations made by the girlfriend of a former employee," the report reads.
"The alleged victim filed an incident report in February regarding the matter in Delaware County (Ohio), where she currently lives. Hilo PD public information officer Chris Loos confirmed to MMA Fighting on Monday that the Hilo PD received a hard copy of that incident report last week."
Penn said through a statement two months ago that the allegations made public by his former website editor were attempts at extorting him. No charges have been filed against Penn on this matter, yet, as far as we know.

When the UFC makes its long-awaited debut in New York, there’s a good chance former titleholder Ronda Rousey will be part of the card.
Earlier this month, MMA’s longtime ban in New York was lifted, and UFC officials quickly announced a Nov. 12 pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Many fighters, especially those who hail from New York, have been stumping for a slot on the card, which comes on the 23rd anniversary of the first UFC event. But UFC President Dana White said one of the organization’s biggest stars – former women’s bantamweight champion Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) – could be a central piece of the lineup.
“(Rousey) definitely is part of the discussion,” White told ESPN’s “Beadle & Shelburne Show.” “She will fight whoever has that belt when she comes back.”

Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho has died following a loss last weekend at an event in Dublin.
Carvalho (1-2), 28, suffered head injuries during a third-round TKO loss to Irish welterweight Charlie Ward at the Total Extreme Fighting event, which took place April 9 at National Stadium.
According to a TEF statement sent to MMAjunkie, medical personnel examined Carvalho after the fight and sent him to a local hospital for “emergency treatment,” which included brain surgery on Saturday. He ultimately died on Monday.

With an injury on Tuesday scrapping the UFC on FOX 19 headliner, the event now has a new opening fight for the main card.
Tony Ferguson was forced out of the UFC on FOX 19 lightweight headliner against Khabib Nurmagomedov next week in Florida due to fluid on his lung. The previously booked co-main event light heavyweight bout between former champion Rashad Evans and former title challenger Glover Teixeira now is the five-round main event.
But with Nurmagomedov without an opponent - the UFC has adjusted the lineup, and a pair of featherweights now will open the four-fight main card on FOX.

BREAKING NEWS!
One of the most feared fighters in the world is finally making her way to the Octagon, as Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Justino faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198 on May 14.

The biggest hurdle preventing the legalization of mixed martial arts in New York State has finally been cleared.
Long the only state in the United States which banned the sport, the Assembly in the capital city of Albany voted to legalize MMA on Tuesday on a bipartisan vote of 113-25.
The bill now moves to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has expressed his intention to sign it. From there, the New York State Athletic Commission has 120 days to adopt guidelines.
If all goes according to plan, the UFC will debut at Madison Square Garden in New York City in November.

Both Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice have failed drug tests ahead of their bouts at Bellator 149 in Houston on Feb. 19.
Sherdog.com learned of Shamrock’s positive test from a source close to the situation. MMAFighting.com reports that Slice also tested positive for a banned substance prior to the event. It is currently unknown for which substances the fighters tested positive.
Sherdog.com recently filed a records request with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for drug tests results from the event. However, the results for Shamrock and Slice were redacted due to pending litigation. According to MMAFighting.com, both fighters have been received an administrative suspension from TDLR. Competitors on the card had their urine tested prior to the event.

AXS TV FIGHTS on Wednesday announced renowned combat sports personality and broadcaster Mauro Ranallo will be the new host of INSIDE MMA, the longest running and only independent MMA news series on television, beginning Friday, March 25.
A veteran broadcaster with over 30 years’ experience, Ranallo will bring his energetic broadcasting style and opinionated views on the world of combat sports to INSIDE MMA alongside UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten and correspondent Ron Kruck Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. PT/12:30 a.m. ET following AXS TV FIGHTS’ weekly live MMA and Muay Thai broadcasts.
Ranallo is best known for his play-by-play commentary for prestigious organizations such as Pride Fighting Championships, which he called alongside his new co-host Rutten for several years; Showtime Boxing, where he recently called the international feed of the historic Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight; and Strikeforce, which was home to MMA superstars like Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier and Luke Rockhold. In 2015, Ranallo helped AXS TV launch its hit pro wrestling series NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING calling matches alongside former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett, before signing with WWE as the new voice of Smackdown.

Japanese promoter Rizin Fighting Federation on Monday announced that it has inked Silva to “a multi-year promotional contract.” The move reunites “The Axe Murderer” with Rizin president Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the co-founder and former head of Pride, whose 205-pound title Silva held from 2001 to 2007.

Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will renew their rivalry in the UFC 199 co-main event on June 4.
UFC President Dana White announced the bantamweight championship matchup during the promotion’s “Unstoppable” press conference in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. UFC 199 is expected to be headlined by a middleweight title rematch between Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman. The event will take place at The Forum in Los Angeles, marking the UFC’s first show in LA not to be held at Staples Center..

TULSA, Oklahoma -
A father and son were shot in a busy parking near 31st and Garnett Monday night. Police said the men were shot in an attempted robbery.
A family member of the victims said her husband and son had been working out at the gym but parked in the nearby Rib Crib parking lot around 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa police said, as the father, Mikey Burnett, and son, Freddie Burnett, got to their car, two men walked up and tried to rob them. We're told Freddie tried to fight off the suspected robbers after they shot his dad.
Police said the Mikey was shot three times in the abdomen and Freddie was shot once in the leg. Police said Mikey was taken to the hospital for surgery. Both are expected to survive.

Cop: Reason I stopped you, okay, is you're going 75 down Alameda in a 35, okay?
Jones: Was I?
Cop: Yeah, I got you on radar, okay. There's no need to be going that fast, man.
Jones: I didn't realize I was.
Cop: Okay, you got your license or insurance?
Jones: I don't, I don't have my license.
Cop: Where you headed?
Jones: I'm headed to Jackson's MMA, to practice at 8:30.
Cop: I need the registration for the license plate.
Jones: Is this it?
Cop: Nope. Do you have the insurance card?
Cop: So, you don't have anything then? You don't have a license with you, no registration, no insurance?
Jones: I just threw on some sweatpants and [unintelligable]
Cop: Is the vehicle in your name?
Jones: No, it's in my fiance's name.
Cop: So where's the insurance, man?
Jones: I don't know.
Cop: You don't know?
Jones: No, I don't know.
Cop: So why are you driving with no insurance, dude?
Jones: Is that illegal?
Cop: [snorts] You know it's illegal, man.
Jones: No, I don't. Is it?
Cop: YES. Everybody has to have insurance.
Jones: Yeah, the car's insured.
Cop: But you got to have proof of insurance. Just because you're telling me that it's legit doesn't mean that it's legit.
Jones: Yeah, I understand that.
Cop: I've got to see some proof.
Jones: I understand.
Cop: You don't have your license with you either, so why are you driving with no license. You know that you have to have a license to drive, right?
Jones: Yeah, I have a valid license.
Cop: But you have to have it with you.
Jones: Yeah. I lost my license a while ago, so I usually carry my passport.
Cop: Be straight up, okay. You don't have a license, right? To be driving.
Jones: No, I do.
Cop: Because you're not coming back in the system as having a license.
Jones: I don't know why that would be, because I'm from New York.
Cop: So, you don't have a New Mexico license?
Jones: No, sir.
Cop: Okay, but you've got one out of New York?
Jones: Mmhmm.
Cop: Okay, you just don't have it with you?
Jones: No, no I don't. I lost my... So, I'm from New York and I haven't gotten a... I've been living here, I moved here officially about a year and a half ago and I've been driving around carrying my passport.
Cop: Mmhmm.
Jones: I left my passport in my book bag at home, so that's the only reason I'm not carrying it.
Cop: But you've got to have a driver's license, not a passport, to drive, okay?
Jones: Okay, I didn't realize that.
Cop: I mean, going 75 is pretty much reckless driving, dude.
Jones: Yeah, that's what he's telling me.
Cop: So, you're getting a huge break dude. You know what I'm saying?
Jones: Yeah, I appreciate it.
Cop: You just need to get a license to drive if you're going to drive, alright? And just drive normal, okay?
Jones: Yeah. Yeah absolutely.
Cop: I mean, yeah you got a cool car, but there's no reason to go drive crazy and kill somebody or kill yourself. It ain't worth it dude.
Jones: Absolutely.

For years, fans and fighters have clamored for those who have competed in the cage to be the ones handing in the official scorecards. However, fighters and coaches make many contacts over the course of their careers, and that leaves the door open to myriad potential conflicts of interest.
As a former King of Pancrase and successful competitor in the UFC, Almeida is probably the most high-profile fighter to end up at the judging table, and he told MMAjunkie that the procedures are in place in New Jersey to minimize the impact of those conflicts.